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Sharples, C
(1995)
Lake Pedder: Values and Restoration. Volume 27, Centre for Environmental Studies Occasional Paper.
In: The Proceedings of a Symposium held on 8th April 1995 at the University of Tasmania, 8 April 1995, Hobart.

Abstract

The original Lake Pedder was aglacial lake of surpassing beauty and outstandingnatural value, set in the geographical heart of whatwas, in the latter half of the twentieth century, oneof only three substantial temperate wilderness areasremaining in the southern hemisphere (Neilson1975). The full breadth and depth of Lake Pedder'snature conservation values have seldom been fullyrecognised, and one aim of this volume is todescribe some of those values. However, theaesthetic and inspirational values of the lake and itssurrounding mountainous regions have beenillustrated and lyrically described by many of thosefortunate enough to have visited the original lake(see for example Angus 1975, Neilson 1975,Southwell 1983, Brown et al. 1985).In 1972 Lake Pedder was flooded to create a newand larger artificial lake as part of the MiddleGordon hydro-electric power development. Thisflooding occurred in the face of a public outcrywhich was, for an environmental issue,unprecedented in Australia's history, and thatheralded the beginning of a new phase inAustralian political history in which theenvironment became a pervasive political issueright up there alongside the economy and othertraditional issues. Although environmentalconcerns had been expressed in Australian societylong before this time and earlier political battleshad been fought over environmental issues, fewwould disagree with the assertion that it was theflooding of Lake Pedder, more than any othersingle event, that irrevocably brought theenvironment into the general public consciousnessin Australia and made it a mainstream politicalissue. It is noteworthy that it was an event at theperiphery of the Australian political scene, ratherthan in the power centres of Melbourne andSydney, which challenged the established order andwrought this profound change in the Australianpolitical landscape.